Rumble & Mumble

Whilst others are busy celebrating raya, I was busy managing the new maid's arrival. As always, Mama being the ever independent mom of four, had to round up everybody (except Abang who decided to follow Acik) on Saturday before Raya to wait for the maid at Jeti Pulau Ketam. And as usual, Papa was always working, this time in Seremban. The maid was scheduled to arrive at 3:30pm, so by that time, we were already there.

And Mama, who hardly waited at the jetty for maids coming in at peak time of the balik-raya madness - never anticipated the crowd. So with baby Aisha, Amir & Aina, Mama had to do 'muka-kesian' at the police-officers and RELA guards the entrance. So they showed me a parking spot just beside them.

When we got off the car, the guards warned me that any ferry coming in will be held at the jetty, and they can only come in once the crowd leaving for Indonesia is cleared by the immigration. So after a few checks and waits at the ferry operator, somebody finally told me that they could actually clear the maid for me if I leave the a copy of the immagration letter for a RM20 fee - that after 2 hours waiting uncomfortably with my 3 kids!

So I was asked to come after buka puasa... and so in between the rush to cook for buka puasa and settling the baby, we did, this time leaving Aisha with Acik while waiting for Papa to come back from Seremban as Acik had to go pick Achu up.

When we got there, the maid was already waiting. I could imagine the exhaustion she had from travelling and waiting since morning. But upon the introduction formalities and such, she popped me the big question - "Anak ibu ada berapa ya?" I was surpised as I already introduced the 3 who followed me. Apparently she said that she didn't ask to to take care of small kids, and if any, only 2 expected!

Adoi! Pusing kepalaku! Quickly I texted Papa that we have to psych her up upon reaching home. Later, we found out that we were also "conned" by the Indonesian agent. We asked for a single lady no kids, we got a janda with 3 kids. And she wanted to take care of only 2 big kids. Reason being she does not want to be reminded of her kids who are now with the gambling ex-husband.

So both expectations were not met. We start to worry already and we realized we need to keep reinforcing the idea that she needs to start fresh and forget the past. But deep inside, I have major doubts, not to mention her hardly smiling face and reactive mode of working. For the first few days, she didn't even try to make friends with the kids, especially Aisha. How can I expect to leave Aisha with her? Even with the laundry, I already told her how to separate the colors, and everyday she'll keep coming back to me with which cloth goes where.

Last Monday, I found her still sleeping at 6:45am when we were busy upstairs gettingready for school. Anyway, I'm still giving her the benefit of the doubts, until yesterday. I asked Aina to send to her room some school uniforms to be ironed, and what did Aina get? "Kakak penat, kakak nak rehat."

That was yesterday when I was still on leave. I took care of Aisha's bathing and stuff. I cooked lunch while she prepared the ingredients. Not so much of work and she did that. I started missing my previous maid, and in fact, Papa did suggest to try calling her back. And I did last night, and was pleasantly surprise that she wants to come back now that her father has recovered from whatever sickness he had. She needs to seek her sister's blessing first and will get back to me soon.

This morning, while I was rushing to go to work after prepping Aisha, I called her to take Aisha while I was getting into the car. Guess what the response was? "Tunggu bu, habiskan jemur kain." Never before my maids did that to me and I was in a hurry some more.

That's it! I want my previous maid back! This current one has too much too ask but too little to give.